Fire siren to be put back up in Skaneateles

After a prolonged absence, the fire siren will be installed in the village of Skaneateles again.

Mayor Marty Hubbard released a statement on Aug. 9 indicating that the siren would be put back up at a date to be determined and it will operate with the conditions proposed by the fire department.

The statement reads: “The Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department has formally requested the reinstatement of the fire siren. I stress the word volunteer because the Skaneateles community benefits in many ways from the countless hours of service by these dedicated men and women. Additionally, our property fire tax rate is one of the lowest in Onondaga County. Please recognize that the planned operation of the fire siren is a compromise within the fire department. Before pre-judging the effects based upon previous operations – let’s first appreciate what we have and give this a chance – the Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department deserves it.”

The mayor and trustees had received a letter from Skaneateles Fire Department Fire Chief Eric Sell dated July 11, requesting that the fire siren be put back up at 26 Fennell St. on a pole. The letter also proposed conditions for the siren’s reinstallation: between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. the siren will sound six times for fire calls and once for EMS calls and between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. the siren will sound six times only for structure fires or at the instruction of one of the three chiefs.

The siren, was mounted on the roof of 26 Fennell St., which used to house the fire department before they moved to their hall on West Genesee Street, but was taken down during construction on the building in November as it was being converted into the new village offices.

The roof of the building will soon hold photovoltaic cells, so the siren will be erected on the property on top of a pole instead.

Joe Genco is the editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at editor@skanetlespress.com.